Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., May 4, 2020, p. S2202)
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate page S2202, May 4, 2020. A senator's remarks on the nomination of Robert J. Feitel refer to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and nuclear safety. Under the heading Coronavirus, a senator's remarks turn to oversight bodies created by the CARES Act, including the Congressional Oversight Commission, which is said to lack a chairperson, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, and to vacancies among inspectors general. A tribute by Mr. Braun titled Remembering Jim Cummings mentions the Indiana Black Expo.
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“Coronavirus (Cong. Rec., May 4, 2020, p. S2202).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-04-crec-2020-05-04-pt1-pgs2202-029845d818/
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S2202 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 4, 2020
here, and this is a good nomination. I that this money gets into the pockets NOMINATION OF ROBERT J. FEITEL
hope my colleagues will support it. of those who need it most and not into Mr. President, having said that, let
CORONAVIRUS the pockets of those who would lit- me turn again to the nomination be-
Mr. President, having said that, let erally steal money from the needy and fore the Senate today. Like all agen-
me remind my colleagues that we are steal money from the taxpayers of this cies, the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
still in the middle of a global pan- country. sion needs a strong and independent in-
demic—if we need to be reminded. I If our majority leader wants to bring spector general, and I believe in Mr.
don’t think we do. But once we have the Senate back, then I would like to Feitel we have one. I believe he is up to
voted on the nomination before us suggest that our time would be well the task.
today, I would urge the Senate to pivot spent making sure that those oversight We cannot be complacent when it
and begin focusing next on examining bodies created in the CARES Act are comes to nuclear safety. Just remem-
issues related to the pandemic and to fully functional, including the CARES ber, 50 percent of the carbon-free en-
ensuring that the assistance we pro- Act Congressional Oversight Commis- ergy produced in this country is pro-
vided in the legislation we have passed sion, which I am told still lacks a duced by our nuclear powerplants.
so far—four pieces, some bigger than chairperson. This is a five-person Think about that. In a day and age
others—is getting to the families and panel. It is one created by each of our when the climate crisis is a huge
the communities that badly need it. If leaders in the House and the Senate. threat literally to our planet and those
we were unable or unwilling to do so, I That would give us four, and then an- of us who live on it, right now, half of
am not sure that the Senate should be other one would be jointly agreed to by
the carbon-free electricity comes in
returning to Washington to act on non- the majority leader here and the
this country from nuclear powerplants.
urgent business in contravention of the Speaker of the House. I am told that as
It is the job of the Nuclear Regu-
recommendation of the Office of the of today, as of this moment, we still
latory Commission to oversee those
Attending Physician and while this en- lack a chairperson of that important
plants and make sure they are being
tire region is still under stay-at-home panel. I hope that our leader here,
run well, run safely, and in ways that
Leader MCCONNELL, and Speaker
orders. enable us to continue to depend on
I also want to make it clear that the PELOSI will work with haste even
today—even today—to jointly name a them as we go forward for carbon-free
Environment and Public Works Com- electricity.
mittee, on which I serve and lead with chair to the Congressional Oversight
Commission as required by law. Anyway, Mr. Feitel is well qualified
Senator JOHN BARRASSO of Wyoming, and prepared, I think; certainly the En-
The CARES Act also created the
was willing to approve this particular vironment and Public Works Com-
Pandemic Response Accountability
nomination unanimously by voice vote, mittee believes he is prepared to take
Committee. That is a committee com-
but it is what is it is, and we are here on this responsibility. I hope my col-
posed of inspectors general from rel-
today. leagues will join Senator BARRASSO,
evant agencies to oversee all spending
In the midst of a global pandemic, our chairman, and myself and the
appropriated through the CARES Act.
the majority leader says he is con- members of our committee to vote yes
That is a huge undertaking. Unfortu-
cerned with nominations. Well, then, on this nomination.
nately, those IG positions at key agen-
let’s address positions that are actu- With that, I don’t see anybody wait-
cies, including the Treasury Depart-
ally more relevant to the crisis that we ing to speak after me, so I suggest the
ment and including the Department of
face today. absence of a quorum.
Currently, one-third of the inspector Education, still remain vacant.
We have seen over the last month The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
general positions that are confirmed by clerk will call the roll.
just how crucial it is that our IGs re-
the Senate remain either vacant or
main independent. Since the Senate The legislative clerk proceeded to
without permanent leadership. The was last in session, the President has call the roll.
President has nominated individuals to unceremoniously removed, reassigned, Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask
fill some, but not all, of these posi- or undermined highly regarded inspec- unanimous consent that the order for
tions. The Senate should work quickly tors general who apparently weren’t the quorum call be rescinded.
to vet those nominees we have re- loyal enough to him or who dared to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
ceived, especially those who would be criticize what they viewed as a failed objection, it is so ordered.
involved with oversight for the or flawed response to the coronavirus. REMEMBERING JIM CUMMINGS
coronavirus response. For example, at the beginning of April,
My colleagues will recall that this Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise to
President Trump removed Glenn Fine, honor and recognize the life and con-
past March Congress passed an unprec- a highly regarded acting inspector gen-
edented $2 trillion relief package, the tributions of Mr. Jim Cummings to the
eral for the Pentagon, who had only a countless Hoosiers whose lives he
CARES Act, to bring help to millions week earlier been selected by his
of Americans who find themselves in touched over nine decades.
peers—selected by his peers—to chair
dire straits through no fault of their Jim was a giant in Indiana. His long
the Pandemic Response Accountability
own. Thankfully, the CARES Act cre- and rich life left many indelible marks
Committee, the third oversight body
ated three new separate oversight bod- on our State. We look to people like
created by the CARES Act.
ies to monitor this emergency funding. We have also seen the President look Jim Cummings as an example of a life
I was also proud to work with Demo- to replace the Health and Human Serv- well lived in service to others. His role
crats and Republican colleagues alike ices IG who, in a detailed report, point- in founding the Indiana Black Expo in
to help secure an additional $20 million ed out the severe shortages that a 1970 made him a leader to all Hoosiers
to ensure that the Government Ac- number of our hospitals have been fac- during a time of great change in our
countability Office, which is known as ing during the coronavirus outbreak. State and our Nation. As a lifelong
GAO, can conduct important oversight I believe it is clear that Congress servant to those in his State and com-
of this funding. In fact, I learned last needs to speak up when appropriate munity, his dedication to conservative
week that GAO has already notified and do a better job supporting our in- principles guided his thoughts and ac-
Congress that it has already either un- spectors general when this President— tions for many years.
dertaken or begun investigations or or frankly any President—takes retal- His life of service extended beyond
has planned investigations of over 150 iatory action against the independent his work with the Indiana Black Expo.
audits that are related to this funding. watchdogs responsible for identifying It included serving his community in
Now, I appreciate GAO’s diligence on failures, waste, fraud, and abuse across public office on a number of boards in
this important matter; not only do I our Federal Government, especially Indianapolis and working as the Dep-
appreciate it, but we appreciate it, and when this much money is at risk. uty Assistant Secretary for the Depart-
the American taxpayers appreciate it If the Senate is going to be back in ment of Housing and Urban Develop-
as well. session, it would seem to me these crit- ment under President Ronald Reagan.
More than ever, it is critical that we ical oversight positions should be Indiana has lost one of its most dis-
have robust oversight to make sure among our top priorities. tinguished Hoosiers of this generation.
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